Coral Reef Club Barbados is one of the most sought after luxury Barbados hotels on the Island. It is elegant, understated and gracious, and is set amongst wonderful gardens with a beachfront location on the West coast and it is also a member of the Small Luxury Hotels of the World.
When staying at Coral Reef Club Barbados, guests experience a wonderful, tropical tranquillity. Their classical Bajan buildings standing amongst profuse lush gardens, with the beautiful colours of bougainvillea, and the rich green fan of a traveller's palm. Days are spent relaxing to the quiet background sounds of the ground doves and hiss of Casuarina pines, and then, as evening draws in, the gardens 'peep' to the sound of the tree frogs.
Coral Reef Hotel Barbados is family owned, the O'Hara family have been part of the West Coast of Barbados for almost fifty years the O'Hara brothers, Patrick and Mark, run the hotel. With the younger generation making some changes to encourage the faithful guests as well as a younger, trendier crowd.
The hotel is laid out in twelve acres that run down to the shore, approach along a drive, beneath the massive trees. To your right is a small block and then rooms are set in cottages around the lawn. Then you arrive reception, where there are more blocks of rooms, festooned in tropical greenery, and overlook the waterfront behind it.
Each building has a low-pitched shingle roof and cream-coloured coral stone or render, with stepped keystones at the corners, arched windows, pediments and white wooden balustrades. Since Coral Reef Club first opened in the 60s, every building in the hotel has been completely rebuilt.
There most recent development was in 2003, the new rooms are leaner and much larger than before. The new bathrooms are nearly the size of the original rooms. The Luxury Cottages and the five Plantation Suites are spectacular and they each have their own plunge pools.
The real pleasure of Coral Reef and the reasons why many guests chose to come back resides in its effortlessly elegant atmosphere. The staff, some of whom have worked there for decades, welcome guests like friends, and the O'Hara brothers, Patrick and Mark make themselves available when ever possible to greet every arriving guest. All this, encouraged by the informality of the hotel the guests also come to know one another, the atmosphere is understated and extremely low key. A true place of tranquillity in the tropics.
Accommodation There are 88 air-conditioned rooms, cottages and suites all of which continue with the classical Bajan theme inside the rooms - pickled pine woodwork giving a pleasant and light effect. Each has an area of outdoor space, with either a private patio or balcony, CD player/clock radios, wall safes, overhead fans, fridges, toasters and hair dryers. Chose from King or twin beds (indicate which you prefer when making your reservation)
Bathrooms are large and have combination shower and baths also following the theme in white and cream-coloured coral rock, with dressing gowns and Moulton Brown shampoos provided.
The garden rooms and garden cottages to the rear of the main house are set in magnificent tropical greenery, and of which there are four single garden rooms.
The superior junior suites in the gardens and luxury junior suites are closer to the sea with a sitting area.
The newest rooms are luxury cottages (and the luxury suites above them) in the cottages around the lawn. These have a dressing area, living room with sofa bed, a wraparound veranda and a private plunge pool. The luxury rooms are in the front half of the property leading towards the sea.
The best sea view of all is from the five plantation suites, which sit on the top floor of the blocks. They are fully air-conditioned with a large covered terrace and open sundeck area with a plunge pool which is 12'x9'. The living room has a fax machine, television, DVD player with a selection of DVDs, CD player and a selection of CDs plus a complimentary starter bar. Three of the suites have king size beds and two can convert from king to twin beds, if required; all have a dressing room and large, ornate bathroom.
For interconnecting rooms or two bedroom accommodation, combinations available are two Garden Rooms/Cottages, one Superior Junior Suite and one Garden Room, two Luxury Junior Suites or two Luxury Cottages/Suites.
For a luxury villa experience within the hotel resort Coral Reef Club offer : Tamarind Villa (2 doubles, 2 singles and 2 bathrooms) is in the gardens next to a shared swimming pool (with Ixora Villa) has a kitchen, living room, large terrace and dining area leading to a private lawned area.
Ixora Villa (3 doubles, 1 single, 3 bathrooms and 1 shower room) shares a pool with Tamarind and has a kitchen, living room with television, DVD, CD player and features a luxurious Master Suite, private patio and large air-conditioned bathroom with separate bath and shower. It also has two double bedrooms with en suite bathrooms and a single room with en suite shower room. Outdoor areas as for Tamarind.
Complimentary water skiing, snorkeling, kayaking, fun rides, Sunfish and Hobiecat Sailing. (Applicable year round)
Complimentary tennis coaching with resident pro from 4.00 p.m. - 6.00 p.m. daily (except Sundays). Adults and children welcome. (Applicable year round)
Exchange Dining with other luxury hotels for guests on Half Board. (Applicable year round)
Services
- Two swimming pools - Gymnasium - Boutique - Beauty and masseuse clinic - Hairdressing salon - Bar - Restaurant - 2 floodlit hard tennis courts.
Other Services Exchange dining with other luxury West Coast hotels for guests on half-board (subject to availability). Facilities for wheelchairs available on request.
NEW SPA UPDATE The Coral Reef Club have introduced a state of the art Spa, offering the highest standards in luxurious facilities. The interior design has been created by British designer Helen Green, whose style has a timeless elegance. It is based on classical Caribbean design with a modern, streamlined look. A colonial inspired two storey building has been built to house the spa's facilities which include: a luxuriously appointed indoor relaxation room, four private, individual treatment rooms with private gardens, a couples' outdoor treatment pavilion, a spa garden with cloisteredrelaxation, a hydro-pool with shaded cabanas for post treatment relaxation and a thermal suite.
Room details
Room
Room Type
Aircon
Ceiling Fan
Ensuite
1
Garden Room/Cottage Twin/Double
Yes
Yes
Shower over Bath
3
Superior Junior Suite Twin/Double
Yes
Yes
Shower over Bath
4
Luxury Junior Suite Twin/Double
Yes
Yes
Shower over Bath
5
Luxury Cottage/Suite Twin/Double
Yes
Yes
Shower over Bath
Location Details: Luxury Hotel St James - Barbados. 5 minutes drive to Holetown. 40 minute drive from Grantley Adams Airport
Additional Information Dining The dining room is set in a covered terrace looking out on to the fantastic, blue waters of the Caribbean Sea. The daily changing dinner menu is based in French cuisine, with influences of the Caribbean ingredients. The Executive Chef is Graham Licorish , and some of the chefs at Coral Reef have had experience in various European restaurants, and cope quite well with special dietary requirements, so if they know in advance they can organise for any special ingredients to be brought in.
Children Coral Reef Club has a small playground for children and they provide a creche for two to eight year olds on weekday afternoons however children under twelve are not accepted during the period 15 January to 15 March. No children under five allowed in restaurant or lounge after 7pm. Complimentary cribs and high chairs are provided. Babysitting service available.
Dress Code Year round - elegantly informal. No shorts, T-shirts, faded or torn jeans allowed in the restaurant in the evening. Smart jeans allowed. At Coral Reef Club on Christmas night and New Year's Eve, Black Tie or Jacket and Tie are requested. At The Sandpiper on New Year's Eve only, Black Tie or Jacket and Tie are requested.
Facilities - Two swimming pools - Gymnasium - Boutique - Beauty and masseuse clinic - Hairdressing salon - Bar - Restaurant - 2 floodlit hard tennis courts. Beach & Swimming The sandy beach at Coral Reef Club shelves quite steeply into the generally calm water of the West Coast. At times of year the tides reveal rocks directly ahead on the sea bed, but only a few yards walk to one side is another area of uninterrupted sandy bottom. In the hotel grounds sun loungers are situated mainly on the lawns, and conveniently in the shade of the massive Casuarina pines at the hottest part of the day. Sports & Recreation Complimentary water-sports are available at Coral Reef Club, including windsurfing and water-skiing, kayaking and small sailing boats, sunfish and hobie cats. Snorkelling equipment is available for a visit to the nearby Folkstone Marine Park. Sailing trips are also available from the hotel. There is also a scuba diving operator on property.
The closest golf course is at Royal Westmoreland, just north and inland of Coral Reef Club, though tee times for outsiders are limited. There are two other golf courses available to visitors at Sandy Lane, whose club house is about fifteen minutes drive south and inland. Weddings/Honeymoons Honeymooners staying 7 nights or longer receive flowers and fruit in their room upon arrival. Accepted Credit Cards at the hotel : Visa, MasterCard, American Express
Coral Reef Club is a member of the "Small Luxury Hotels of the World"